Twickenham

Visiting Twickenham for the 6 Nations tournament? Here is our pick of places to visit, drink and eat to make the most of your day.

Places to visit

The World Rugby Museum in the East Stand of Twickenham Stadium is perfect for any rugby fan. It contains 37,000 pieces of rugby memorabilia, boots, balls, jerseys, programmes, match-tickets, books and assorted paraphernalia, including the Calcutta Cup and the 2003 Rugby World Cup.

If you fancy a brief escape from rugby, then look no further than Strawberry Hill House. This the wildly romantic 18th century Gothic revival mansion that was once home to the bon viveur Horace Walpole, son of the Prime Minister Sir Robert Walpole.

Places to drink

Twickenham is renowned for its rugby pubs. Just a stone’s throw from the Richmond Athletic Ground, where London Scottish or Richmond always have a game before the festivities commence at Twickenham, the Sun Inn is one of London’s greatest rugby pubs. The walls are covered with rugby memorabilia and there are three huge 60in screens for watching the games.

The Daily Telegraph reckons that the White Swan is “a hidden gem with one of the best beer gardens in London”. Perhaps that’s the case for the rest of the year, but during the Six Nations this beautiful 250-year-old riverside pub and its picturesque gardens are absolutely packed with rugby fans.

The Cabbage Patch is named after the nickname for the nearby stadium (which was built on “Billy Williams’ cabbage patch”), which is presumably why it styles itself “the world’s most famous rugby pub”. This rugby-themed pub with a huge beer garden is, however, famous as a meeting place for the hordes streaming off the train at the nearby station.

Places to eat

For some of us, a Six Nations match day just isn’t up to scratch without a curry. There are at least half a dozen curry houses in Twickenham, but none give better value for money than Noush in Twickenham town centre, a 20-minute walk from the stadium.

Most people head out to Richmond, St Margarets or Twickenham and then walk from there, but if you head out to Isleworth or Teddington it’s much less crowded, far easier to get a table and still a sensible walk. Part gastropub, part brasserie, The King’s Head is fantastically popular and no wonder: the French-influenced menu is huge and the excellent steaks start at £13.

Just over a mile away from Twickenham stadium, The Crown, a Michelin Guide-recommended gastropub is also five minutes from St Margarets railway station so easy to get to. It’s a good-looking Georgian pile that’s been converted into a pub and which is very rugby friendly – indeed, there’s a simple two-course menu on rugby days which costs £24.